I am personally drawn to make choices that don't follow the crowd, but with the classic designs of the Fender basses from inception through the '70s, for example, I'm totally sold on them as my reference point. The Fender bass has the 1) sound that is the reference, 2) was probably played by your bass hero, and definitely played by legions of players that make our art cool to us, 3) easy to mod to make it your own, 4) amazing work of industrial design in my opinion; I have stared at the bass or other images for hours on end over the years and it still does something warm and fuzzy for me.
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Why does everyone use Fenders?
- Thread starter batmilk
- Start date
Asking why everyone plays a Fender is like asking why everyone drives a certain kind of car
Not everyone does, rather it's a case of enough people doing so to exaggerate and typify what people play (or drive for that matter)
surely TB is sufficient proof of the breadth and availability of all manner of instruments besides what music media shows bass players to play.
My 2cents well and truly thrown in, though I have a Fender so I suppose I'd better get back on the high horse
Not everyone does, rather it's a case of enough people doing so to exaggerate and typify what people play (or drive for that matter)
surely TB is sufficient proof of the breadth and availability of all manner of instruments besides what music media shows bass players to play.
My 2cents well and truly thrown in, though I have a Fender so I suppose I'd better get back on the high horse
I absolutely love the way the Fender Precision sounds. I have tried other basses, 5 strings, active electronics, humbuckers, etc. Sure, other basses sound more aggresive, more clear, whatever, others may be easier to play, more reliable, etc. But to me, nothing compares to that tone! it's like you can almost taste it, with the right playing and the right amp it can make you go nuts 
P.S. I don't like the Fender Jazz bass, so I'm not "branded"
P.S. I don't like the Fender Jazz bass, so I'm not "branded"
Never been a "shoegazer" myself, but in general I've always been a Fender fan. I think, for me, it's because, when i first started playing, my main influences were Jamerson, JPJ, and Jaco, who all played Fenders. It probably didn't even ever occur to me that there were other kinds of basses lol (other than the cheap beater bass I started on)... I've expanded my horizons since, with a couple MusicMan's and a Gibson.
But yeah there's no reason you NEED to play a Fender. Warwick's are great and if you're the only one in your particular scene that plays one, it might give your band an extra bit of flavour compared to others.
But yeah there's no reason you NEED to play a Fender. Warwick's are great and if you're the only one in your particular scene that plays one, it might give your band an extra bit of flavour compared to others.
Whether someone likes Fender or not, at least make your decision on the merits of the instrument.
Rejecting Fenders because you don't want to be "part of the crowd" is just not a very good reason.
You could be selling yourself short.
I know, I was like that in my youth and it sent me on an expensive and frustrating quest on the bass-merry-go round before I realized that Fender Precisions were perfect for me.
Rejecting Fenders because you don't want to be "part of the crowd" is just not a very good reason.
You could be selling yourself short.
I know, I was like that in my youth and it sent me on an expensive and frustrating quest on the bass-merry-go round before I realized that Fender Precisions were perfect for me.
Rejecting Fenders because you don't want to be "part of the crowd" is just not a very good reason.
You could be selling yourself short.
I know, I was like that in my youth and it sent me on an expensive and frustrating quest on the bass-merry-go round before I realized that Fender Precisions were perfect for me.
I agree and plead guilty. I have not played Fenders simply because I wanted to be different. I have spent thousands not playing Fender. I am now debating changing things up and going to a Precision. Not that other basses are bad or that Fenders are "all that" but just as a change.
For any brand, it's pretty ridiculous to play or not play just to be or not be part of the crowd.
I think it's because Fender's are the best way to get those Fender tones, so people who like the way Fenders sound play Fenders....
I'm guilty of this as well. I have always wanted to have a guitar or bass that looked different from what I perceived to be the generic look of Fenders. Everyone else was playing one so by default, I would not. Well, at the end of the day, that's not a good enough reason not to play one or at least give them a fair shot. So, I'm waiting for my first "Fender" (actually a Squier but who's keeping track) It's the new Eva Gardner P bass so I'm pretty stoked to see how it feels and sounds.
I agree with a lot of the pro Fender posts here and some of the con Fender posts, but some of the con posts are stupid to the point that I think people are being trolled. You may not like Fender, but to put on cork sniffing airs and put them down just makes you look idiotic, and I'm okay with that. If you don't care for them, so be it. But to use "they don't sound good" as a blanket statement only shows your ignorance. Saying "I don't like the way they sound" makes it seem like you don't care for them versus you're too dumb to appreciate them.
I appreciate Fender basses for their unique tones - but in my youth I was into, well.. knobs. Heck, guitarists had their 4 knobs and switches, why can't I?
Fender bass guitars had far too few of them, so my first real bass was an Ibanez Musician with 6 knobs-a 3 band Eq.
Later on in life, I started to appreciate the simplicity and functionality of the Fender P- and Jazz basses. They're flagrantly flaunting old world tech in a new world society. lol. I like that.
No, I'm still into my knobs, active circuitry and equalizers but I did compromise somewhat and I do have a Squier VM Jag in my collection of basses. Even had a MIM Jazz V for a while.
I do appreciate Fender basses though, they are wonderful basses - I just prefer other designs.
Fender bass guitars had far too few of them, so my first real bass was an Ibanez Musician with 6 knobs-a 3 band Eq.
Later on in life, I started to appreciate the simplicity and functionality of the Fender P- and Jazz basses. They're flagrantly flaunting old world tech in a new world society. lol. I like that.
No, I'm still into my knobs, active circuitry and equalizers but I did compromise somewhat and I do have a Squier VM Jag in my collection of basses. Even had a MIM Jazz V for a while.
I do appreciate Fender basses though, they are wonderful basses - I just prefer other designs.
Not everyone likes the same look or tone.
I for one am very thankful about that.
Imagine just one bass tone throughout all of recorded music's history....pretty boring, don't you think?
I for one am very thankful about that.
Imagine just one bass tone throughout all of recorded music's history....pretty boring, don't you think?
TL; DR but for OP:
Do not give this another thought, unless you enjoy thinking about this for philosophical or historical reasons. Use what you like, use what works for you.
Do not give this another thought, unless you enjoy thinking about this for philosophical or historical reasons. Use what you like, use what works for you.
I'd guess Fender spends at least five times as much money marketing Fender basses than the next closest "brand". Next closest would be? Gibson/Epi? Ibanez?
That means a few things:
1) good for Fender, it's nice that someone cares about marketing to bass players
2) Fender designs will always be on the conservative side since it's about marketing and not innovation
3) the famous "Fender Tone" isn't going away any time soon because Fender has the #1 installed base of musicians and they consistently deliver what their audience wants
4) their signature artist Squier series is a brilliant move to get young people into a "Fender" as their very first bass.
That means a few things:
1) good for Fender, it's nice that someone cares about marketing to bass players
2) Fender designs will always be on the conservative side since it's about marketing and not innovation
3) the famous "Fender Tone" isn't going away any time soon because Fender has the #1 installed base of musicians and they consistently deliver what their audience wants
4) their signature artist Squier series is a brilliant move to get young people into a "Fender" as their very first bass.
Wow... I could have written the exact same post. And similar reason why I returned the amazing vintage precision my dad bought me as a grad gift in 1987 and got an Ibanez musician nt pj as well.... lol
My brother of another mother
Everybody uses Fenders because they're easy to get. I don't care what anyone uses. Along similar lines, I won't be judged by someone else's brand name. This thread never stops being ridiculous.
A lot of people get mixed up and ask what they should buy, when the only question they should be asking is what other people think and prefer. The only thing you should buy is something that you appreciate and would like to use. I can't stand the Bootsy Collins Star bass, but who cares? Not Bootsy. Impress yourself with your bass, impress others with your playing
A lot of people get mixed up and ask what they should buy, when the only question they should be asking is what other people think and prefer. The only thing you should buy is something that you appreciate and would like to use. I can't stand the Bootsy Collins Star bass, but who cares? Not Bootsy. Impress yourself with your bass, impress others with your playing
+1
